Comments on: Mr. Disingenuous

By: allen Carstensen

allen Carstensen — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 01:06:21 +0000

I’m convinced the post is not legit, but let’s assume for a moment that it is. If the “artist” owns property in the district, and pays his property taxes, his lifestyle choices and work ethic should really have no influence on policy decisions regarding our EMS – he’s paying his share. The fact that privatizing our EMS would risk lives, decrease volunteerism, and increase insurance premiums should influence our policy decisions.

But I do think it’s fascinating. The disingenuous writer of the post, created a story in our minds, and our perception of reality is made up of thousands of these stories. It’s up to each of us, which stories we hold on to, and which ones we reject, and this influences our ideas about how society should be structured. When I first read the story, I’m ashamed to admit that my initial reaction was that the “artist” was a free loader, and I resented having to pay taxes to “support his aspirations”. I work hard, so why should I have to pay for him to stay home and be an artist?

I had exactly the reaction that the author desired.

But look ….. “I never really fit in as a worker. Couldn’t stand to take direction, hated doing what anyone told me to do. So, after a year of college that was a total waist…” seriously, who would write that? The disingenuous author is a libertarian that is trying to spread his libertarian ideology. He has created a story about what he thinks the average recipient of care from our EMS is like. I think there are actually very few sole breadwinners of families of 5, that don’t like to work hard, dropped out of college, failed at business, and then become happy artists and spend hundreds of dollars at Grassroots, while being tickled pink that they won’t have to pay for the ambulance if they overdose on drugs.

My guess is that you would be much happier to pay your EMS taxes, if you knew what the average recipient of care was actually like. Most of our neighbors are good people. That’s why the volunteers volunteer (until they are discouraged by talk of privatization)

It would be easy to create a different story…..

http://findingulysses.com/2009/10/03/dickens-a-christmas-carol/

By: publius

publius — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:44:49 +0000

Fascinating indeed. What if this is real Allan? It sounds pretty legit. Doesn’t it seem unfair for this “aspiring artist” with four kids to be laying off the costs of his irresponsible decision-making on the community? His commitment to our community seems to be based totally on its willingness to support him, doesn’t it? He’s getting a great school for his kids, paying low property taxes because he’s living cheaply on the edge of the school district, getting free ambulance and police protection, etc. for almost nothing solely because of the community he apparently researched and found to be very prosperous and willing to support a carefree lifestyle. Is there a positive take on this, assuming it’s true of course? Should we encourage this kind of thinking? I’m inclined to like artists and am willing to support them by investing in what they do, but this notion that he is entitled to be supported by our community (wholly apart from his art) is disturbing I think.

By: allen Carstensen

allen Carstensen — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:12:48 +0000

This is fascinating. I suppose it is possible that the above post is what it seems (forgive me if it is) but I don’t think so. I think that what it is, is an attempt by a conservative who believes in the fee for service system, to paint a picture of those who benefit from a social safety net, as being undeserving of our support. This is an old trick among conservatives who would like to dismantle all that FDR built. Ronald Reagan used to speak of a “welfare queen” who would pick up her welfare checks in a cadillac. (she didn’t exist) The writer of the post wants people that work hard to make enough to pay their taxes, to “refutiate” (thank you Sarah Palin) the notion of supporting the aspirations of his fictional “artist”

If we continue to support our single payer EMS without billing, there is a danger that we might help someone that doesn’t completely fit our concept of someone deserving of our care. But the vast majority of our neighbors are good responsible citizens, and we should set policy that works best for them.

If we took the above post at face value, and the child of the artist that doesn’t like hard work needed ambulatory care, would we want to punish the child for the failings of the father?

If I’m right about this post being deceptive, who would want to write it? Unfortunately, the libertarians that want to privatize our EMS have nothing in their arsenal but lies and deception. Maybe it’s written by Mr. Disingenuous himself.

By: artislife

artislife — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 03:06:41 +0000

I have held back on this issue but have to make a quick point. There a lot of people in T-burg who have done well for themselves. As a result, the community is strong and prosperous. That’s exactly what attracted me. I never really fit in as a worker. Couldn’t stand to take direction, hated doing what anyone told me to do. So, after a year of college that was a total waist, my wife and I decided to start a business. She was good with people and had experience as a waitress. I was not sure what to do. In the end, we started up a landscaping business. She was the desiner, I was the mower and the muscle. We were not very good at business and, to add to that, we had 4 kids over the next 6 years. In the end, my wife couldn’t work, and mowing basically wasn’t paying the bills. And, I really decided that I wanted to try being an artist. So, in that situation, we needed to move to a place where we could live cheaply and where the community support was strong. T-burg is great that way. We found a small place out a ways and pay almost no taxes. Our four kids go to a good school (we made sure to be in the T-burg school district). We get free ambulance service if we need it, (thanks Allan!), etc. We have a cool place to live in and we are able to save up every year to buy a campsite at Grassroots. So, I know this isn’t the quick point I said, but for me, a person who really wants to be an artist, T-burg’s prosperity is really a help. Thank you for being willing to support my aspirations T-burgers!!!!